Officials suspect two missing inmates stole car

Florence County officials are searching for two minimum-security inmates who walked away from their jobs at a South Carolina cannery near Florence.

The state Department of Corrections said Palmer Pre-Release Center inmates Dameon Simpson, 35, and Kyle Norris, 27, were reported missing Sunday morning from their jobs working the late shift at McCall Farms in Effingham.

A cannery employee told authorities he gave Simpson a key ring to operate a piece of farm machinery Saturday. However, that ring included a key to his Jeep Cherokee. Palmer officials said they realized the two were missing the following morning. Authorities are looking for a two-door, dark green 1982 Jeep Cherokee with a South Carolina license plate 3306FJ.

The Florence County Sheriffs Department is handling the search.

Simpson is serving a 5-year sentence for hit-and-run. Norris has less than six months to go on a 5-year sentence for 2nd degree burglary.